Pam Schuster of Southern California Velo added her name to the long list of
palmares of The Manhattan Beach Grand Prix winning the sprint by a bike length,
besting her teammate Priscilla Calderon and Anna Drukullich (Herbalife La
Grange).

Dianna Del Fante of Paramount cycling and Jennifer Weinbrecht (G & L
Bikes) filled out the top 5 finishers in the bunch sprint of 35 riders.

The race opened under low coastal clouds but soon the sun was breaking
through for perfect clear and sunny conditions by mid race... once again the
winds would play their part as the wind got the sponsor's Chevron flags
whipping in wind after the opening six laps. With the wind on their backs on the
front side of the course ther women faced a ever stiffer wind on the backside of
the course working against the breaks.

Dara Rogers (Helens/Cannondale) leads the peloton on the backside of the course
after turn one. Photo copyright 2010 Dennis White

A smaller field graced the race this year which for the first time in years
is not an NRC this year. The Men's race however is.

The riders approached the race with caution in the first 2 laps; but by stage
3 a break of two was off only to be caught on the backside as they started lap 5
of the hour long speedfest .

2002 winner (while riding for Saturn) Suzanne Sonye (Helens/Cannondale) won
the lap 4 preem as the pace pumped up into the wind as Bethany Allen (Team
Ranchos) led the peloton through the start and finish area with 5 laps to go.

a break by Suzan Given (Paramount Cysling) proved as futile as the early
attempts being pulled back on the hill near the first turn. The peloton was set
for a bunch sprint as the riders on kept the field strung out on the final 2
laps.

Comiing around the final corner with 200 km to go it was Pam Schuster making
the surprise move up the right side of the road to catch the lead group of four
and pass to take the win in style...